MONSIEUR LAZHAR: DVD

SYNOPSIS:Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag), an Algerian immigrant,
is hired to replace an elementary school teacher in Montreal who
committed suicide in her classroom. While the class goes through a
long healing process, nobody in the school is aware of Bachir's
painful former life; nor that he is at risk of being deported at
any moment.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:'Good teacher' movies have
profound appeal for obvious reasons: teachers are the second tier
guardians, carers and role models for our children. The potential
impact of teachers on the lives of their students is huge.
Inevitably, good teacher characters on screen become almost
saintly figures - but we tend to forgive such excess. Bachir
Lazhar (Fellag) is one such teacher, who follows in this
tradition. The moment we meet him, offering to take the place of
the teacher at a Montreal school who had committed suicide, we
can tell he's decent, honest, caring, humble and devoted to his
task. He cannot be denied.

Monsieur Lazhar soon proves to
be an unusual teacher, but effective. The class responds to him
and he tries his best to open their minds, always aware of the
sense of grief and absence of answers the children have for the
death of their beloved Martine Lachance (Helena Laliberte).
Hidden from them all is Lazhar's own grief, and his risky status
in Canada, having fled Algeria after his family were killed in a
political reprisal. He is awaiting the determination of his
refugee status.

This parallel story is intended to
counterpoint the surface story and give it poignancy but it
doesn't quite work, although at least it provides him the
emotional rationale to explain to the children that death cannot
always be explained or understood. The one flaw in the screenplay
is that we are never quite sure of the facts behind the teacher's
suicide. This may work as consistency of an idea about death, but
the void that it leaves denies the audience a reference point for
all the emotions surrounding it.

Two friends in his class,
Simon (Emilien Neron) and Alice (Sophie Nelisse) are at the
centre of the story, their friendship under severe strain with a
secret that has to do with the suicide. As the film moves closer
towards the resolution, it focuses on Simon and when the
youngster lets his emotions out, it is Lazhar who is there to
comfort and reassure him. But since we are in doubt about the
suicide, the effect is emotional confusion.

Still, it is
beautifully performed by all the actors, not least the
youngsters. Indeed, it is the insights into the 11 and 12 year
old Canadian children that is the film's most interesting aspect
for me. They show considerable maturity and strength.

Review by Louise Keller:Comparing the classroom with
the protective cocoon from which the pupa emerges as an adult
butterfly, Monsieur Lazhar is an exquisitely simple film about
complex subject matter. Adapted from Evelyne de la Chenelière's
stage play, there's a gentle elegance with which filmmaker
Philippe Falardeau constructs the work, while the searing honesty
of the youngsters (through astonishing, naturalistic
performances) pierces our emotional barriers as issues about
death, breaking rules and being allowed to express feelings are
woven unobtrusively into the canvas of school daily life. The
fact that both teacher and students are in need of protection
adds greatly to the poignancy and Falardeau delivers an
emotionally rich film filled with nuance, grace and subtlety.

Watching a group of 11 and 12 year olds play in the snow-
filled school ground in wintry Montreal offers little clue as to
what is about to happen when Simon (Émilien Néron) runs inside
the school building to collect a tray of milk cartons. Although
we do not see what he sees as he peers in the class room, the
shocking revelation that his teacher has hung herself quickly
reverberates. Headmistress Mrs Vaillancourt (Danielle Proulx) is
a stickler for the rules and after providing some cursory
sessions with a psychologist is in favour of moving on and not
referring to the tragic events.

It is indicative of how
the primary students have taken to their new Algerian teacher
Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag), that they suggest the traditional
word 'Cheese' is replaced by his first name when posing for the
class photo. As the narrative progresses and we discover about
the recent loss that Bachir has suffered, we realise that it is
not only the children that need a safe haven. Although the walls
of the classroom have been newly painted, the room now devoid of
colour and life, is a daily reminder to the students of their
teacher. When Bachir suggests swapping classrooms, Mrs
Vaillancourt suggests it would be like putting snow in a
neighbour's backyard.

Despite the subject matter, the film
plays lightly and with humour and the scene in which Claire
(Brigitte Poupart), the expressive theatre teacher invites Bachir
for dinner is as amusing as it is awkward. Adorable Alice
L'Écuyer (Sophie Nélisse), with rosebud lips and sweet
disposition quickly becomes Bachir's favourite; it is her essay
on violence that expresses in simple words what everyone wants to
say.

All the children are extraordinary but it is Nélisse
with her expressive, vulnerable gaze and Néron as Simon, the
child burdened with the weight of guilt who win our hearts. A
large tear drop rolled down my cheek in the scene in which Simon
finally reveals his torment. Also moving, is the way the issue
concerning the rules of physical contact between teachers and
students is addressed.

Nominated for an Academy Award and
winner of six Genie Awards in 2012, including Best Film, Best
Direction and Best Screenplay for Philippe Falardeau, Best Actor
for Fellag and Best Supporting Actress for little Sophie Nélisse,
this is a film that has something to say and bursts at the seams
to deliver its touching message.